1888
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Head of an Old Man (Tête de vieillard) is a 1888 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows an older man with a thick beard and wild, curly hair. His face is mostly hidden by the tangled strands, but you can just make out his eyes and the shape of his nose. The lines are scratchy and uneven, like they were drawn fast or with a rough tool. The artist used a technique that leaves behind lots of texture—almost like scribbling but controlled. This style was popular in the late 1800s for capturing raw, real moments. Check out etching to see how artists like this one made prints with acid and metal plates.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
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